Run-through switch rods

Abstract

Embodiments of innovative designs and use of switch rods are disclosed. In one particular embodiment, a method of preventing derailment of a train traveling through a previously run-through railroad switch may include installing a railroad switch rod assembly to couple a switch point of a railroad switch with a railroad switch stand. The method may also include configuring a locking mechanism in the railroad switch rod assembly such that, upon a railway vehicle trailing the railroad switch in a first direction, the locking mechanism maintains the railroad switch in a condition that accommodates safe movement of the railway vehicle through the railroad switch in a second direction opposite to the first direction.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A railroad switch rod assembly, comprising:
 a switch rod housing having a first end adapted to couple with a switch point of a railroad switch, the switch rod housing further having a second end adapted to slidably receive a connecting rod into the switch rod housing; 
 a detent assembly coupled to the switch rod housing, the detent assembly comprising a detent pin; and 
 the connecting rod, one end of the connecting rod being adapted to couple with a railroad switch stand, the connecting rod having (a) a first notch to receive a tip of the detent pin in a first operating state of the railroad switch to maintain a first relative position of the connecting rod in the switch rod housing and (b) a second notch to receive the tip of the detent pin in a second operating state of the railroad switch to maintain a second relative position of the connecting rod in the switch rod housing, 
 wherein a first sidewall of the second notch is steeply sloped to stop the detent pin from sliding further along the connecting rod, and 
 wherein a second sidewall of the second notch is less steeply sloped than the first sidewall to allow a sliding motion of the connecting rod to disengage the detent pin from the second notch and cause the detent pin to re-engage with the first notch. 
 
     
     
       2. The railroad switch rod assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the detent pin is spring-loaded in the detent assembly. 
     
     
       3. The railroad switch rod assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the tip of the detent pin protrudes through an opening in a sidewall of the switch rod housing to engage with the first notch and the second notch. 
     
     
       4. The railroad switch rod assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein contours of the tip of the detent pin and sidewalls of the first notch are so configured as to allow a significant force exerted along the connecting rod to disengage the detent pin from the first notch and to cause the detent pin to slide relative to the connecting rod towards the second notch. 
     
     
       5. A railroad switch system comprising the railroad switch rod assembly of  claim 1 . 
     
     
       6. A method of using the railroad switch rod assembly of  claim 1 , the method comprising:
 causing the detent pin to engage with the first notch on the connecting rod so as to maintain the railroad switch in the first operating state; and 
 installing the railroad switch rod assembly to couple the switch point of the railroad switch with the railroad switch stand. 
 
     
     
       7. The method according to  claim 6 , further comprising:
 resetting the railroad switch rod assembly causing the detent pin to engage with the first notch on the connecting rod after the railroad switch is run through. 
 
     
     
       8. A method of making a railroad switch rod assembly, the method comprising:
 forming a switch rod housing having a first end adapted to couple with a switch point of a railroad switch and a second end adapted to slidably receive a connecting rod into the switch rod housing; 
 coupling a detent assembly to the switch rod housing, the detent assembly comprising a detent pin; 
 adapting one end of the connecting rod the connecting rod to couple with a railroad switch stand; 
 forming a first notch and a second notch in the connecting rod, the first notch being adapted to receive a tip of the detent pin in a first operating state of the railroad switch to maintain a first relative position of the connecting rod in the switch rod housing, and the second notch being adapted to receive the tip of the detent pin in a second operating state of the railroad switch to maintain a second relative position of the connecting rod in the switch rod housing,
 wherein first sidewall of the second notch is steeply sloped to stop the detent pin from sliding further along the connecting rod, and 
 wherein a second sidewall of the second notch is less steeply sloped than the first sidewall to allow a sliding motion of the connecting rod to disengage the detent pin from the second notch and cause the detent pin to re-engage with the first notch; and 
 
 assembling the connecting rod with the switch rod housing. 
 
     
     
       9. A method of using a railroad switch rod assembly, the method comprising:
 providing a railroad switch rod assembly comprising:
 a switch rod housing having a first end adapted to couple with a switch point of a railroad switch, the switch rod housing further having a second end adapted to slidably receive a connecting rod into the switch rod housing, 
 a detent assembly coupled to the switch rod housing, the detent assembly comprising a detent pin, and 
 the connecting rod, one end of the connecting rod being adapted to couple with a railroad switch stand, the connecting rod having (a) a first notch to receive a tip of the detent pin in a first operating state of the railroad switch to maintain a first relative position of the connecting rod in the switch rod housing and (b) a second notch to receive the tip of the detent pin in a second operating state of the railroad switch to maintain a second relative position of the connecting rod in the switch rod housing, 
 wherein a first sidewall of the second notch is steeply sloped to stop the detent pin from sliding further along the connecting rod, and 
 wherein a second sidewall of the second notch is less steeply sloped than the first sidewall to allow a sliding motion of the connecting rod to disengage the detent pin from the second notch and cause the detent pin to re-engage with the first notch; and 
 
 installing the railroad switch rod assembly to couple the switch point of the railroad switch with the railroad switch stand, the installing further comprising causing the detent pin to engage with the first notch on the connecting rod so as to maintain the railroad switch in the first operating state. 
 
     
     
       10. A railroad switch rod assembly, comprising:
 a switch rod housing having a first end adapted to couple with a railroad switch stand, the switch rod housing further having a second end adapted to slidably receive a connecting rod into the switch rod housing; 
 a detent assembly coupled to the switch rod housing, the detent assembly comprising a detent pin; and 
 the connecting rod, one end of the connecting rod being adapted to couple with a switch point of a railroad switch, the connecting rod having (a) a first notch to receive a tip of the detent pin in a first operating state of the railroad switch to maintain a first relative position of the connecting rod in the switch rod housing and (b) a second notch to receive the tip of the detent pin in a second operating state of the railroad switch to maintain a second relative position of the connecting rod in the switch rod housing, 
 wherein a first sidewall of the second notch is steeply sloped to stop the detent pin from sliding further along the connecting rod, and 
 wherein a second sidewall of the second notch is less steeply sloped than the first sidewall to allow a sliding motion of the connecting rod to disengage the detent pin from the second notch and cause the detent pin to re-engage with the first notch. 
 
     
     
       11. A method of making a railroad switch rod assembly, the method comprising:
 forming a switch rod housing having a first end adapted to couple with a railroad switch stand and a second end adapted to slidably receive a connecting rod into the switch rod housing; 
 coupling a detent assembly to the switch rod housing, the detent assembly comprising a detent pin; 
 adapting one end of the connecting rod the connecting rod to couple with a switch point of a railroad switch; 
 forming a first notch and a second notch in the connecting rod, the first notch being adapted to receive a tip of the detent pin in a first operating state of the railroad switch to maintain a first relative position of the connecting rod in the switch rod housing, and the second notch being adapted to receive the tip of the detent pin in a second operating state of the railroad switch to maintain a second relative position of the connecting rod in the switch rod housing,
 wherein a first sidewall of the second notch is steeply sloped to stop the detent pin from sliding further along the connecting rod, and 
 wherein a second sidewall of the second notch is less steeply sloped than the first sidewall to allow a sliding motion of the connecting rod to disengage the detent pin from the second notch and cause the detent pin to re-engage with the first notch; and 
 
 assembling the connecting rod with the switch rod housing. 
 
     
     
       12. A method of using a railroad switch rod assembly, the method comprising:
 providing a railroad switch rod assembly comprising:
 a switch rod housing having a first end adapted to couple with a railroad switch stand, the switch rod housing further having a second end adapted to slidably receive a connecting rod into the switch rod housing, 
 a detent assembly coupled to the switch rod housing, the detent assembly comprising a detent pin, and 
 the connecting rod, one end of the connecting rod being adapted to couple with a switch point of a railroad switch, the connecting rod having (a) a first notch to receive a tip of the detent pin in a first operating state of the railroad switch to maintain a first relative position of the connecting rod in the switch rod housing and (b) a second notch to receive the tip of the detent pin in a second operating state of the railroad switch to maintain a second relative position of the connecting rod in the switch rod housing, 
 wherein a first sidewall of the second notch is steeply sloped to stop the detent pin from sliding further along the connecting rod, and 
 wherein a second sidewall of the second notch is less steeply sloped than the first sidewall to allow a sliding motion of the connecting rod to disengage the detent pin from the second notch and cause the detent pin to re-engage with the first notch; and 
 
 installing the railroad switch rod assembly to couple the switch point of the railroad switch with the railroad switch stand, the installing further comprising causing the detent pin to engage with the first notch on the connecting rod so as to maintain the railroad switch in the first operating state.